Gloucestershire 11+ Exam 2026: What to Do in the Last Two Weeks Before the 11 Plus

Is your child sitting the Gloucestershire 11+ exam in September 2026? With just two weeks before the 11 plus, here's exactly what parents should do to help their child feel calm, confident and ready for the GL Assessment 11+ test.

The final two weeks before the Gloucestershire 11+ exam can feel nerve-racking. Parents often wonder: Should we do more practice papers? What should my child revise? How much 11+ practice should we do each day? What happens if they're still struggling with certain questions?

At Success Index, we specialise in Gloucestershire 11+ preparation, and our advice at this stage is simple:

Don't cram. Build confidence, sharpen exam technique and help your child arrive on 11+ exam day rested and ready.

If you haven't already, download our Friday Freebie worksheets for Maths and English exercises.

Here are 10 practical things you can do:

1. Don't Cram Two Weeks Before the 11 Plus

With only two weeks remaining, suddenly doubling your child's workload can do more harm than good.

Your child has already spent months and, for some, years developing their 11+ maths, English, comprehension, vocabulary, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning skills.

Now is the time to consolidate those skills.

Aim for short, focused 11+ revision sessions rather than hours of practice. Finishing a 30-minute session feeling successful is far more valuable than completing another paper when your child is exhausted.

Success Index tip: Quality beats quantity in the final fortnight.

2. Use Timed GL Assessment 11+ Practice

At this stage, 11+ exam technique is extremely important.

Include some timed GL Assessment 11+ practice questions and practice papers so your child becomes comfortable working against the clock.

Remind them to:

• Read every instruction carefully.

• Work accurately but efficiently.

• Keep an eye on the time.

• Avoid spending too long on one difficult question.

• Move on when necessary.

• Stay calm when they encounter an unfamiliar question.

The aim isn't to create pressure. It's to make the real Gloucestershire grammar school entrance test feel familiar.

3. Focus on Weak Areas, Not Everything

Look through your child's recent 11+ practice papers.

Which question types are still causing difficulty? This should be easy if you started the mistakes book we recommended! 

It might be:

11+ Maths — fractions, percentages, problem solving or arithmetic.

11+ English — comprehension, spelling or vocabulary.

Verbal reasoning — understanding words, relationships and patterns.

Non-verbal reasoning — identifying visual patterns and sequences.

Spatial reasoning — mentally rotating and manipulating shapes.

Pick one or two weaker areas and work on them in short bursts.

Don't attempt to teach dozens of new topics in the final fortnight.

4. Keep Practising 11+ Vocabulary

Parents often search for 11+ vocabulary lists in the final weeks, but vocabulary doesn't have to mean memorising hundreds of words.

Encourage your child to read every day. When you find an unfamiliar word, ask: “What do you think this word means?”

Discuss synonyms and antonyms and then check it's meaning.

Ten minutes of enjoyable vocabulary work each day can be more useful than an exhausting last-minute vocabulary marathon.

5. Practise Non-Verbal and Spatial Reasoning

11+ non-verbal reasoning and spatial reasoning can worry parents because the questions sometimes look unfamiliar.

Don't panic. Use short sets of GL Assessment-style spatial reasoning and non-verbal reasoning questions and concentrate on recognising the method behind each question type.

If your child gets something wrong, don't simply tell them the answer.

Ask:

“What changed between these shapes?”

or:

“What pattern can you see?”

Understanding the process is more useful than memorising an answer.

6. Do an 11+ Mock Test or Dress Rehearsal

Before the real exam, give your child an opportunity to practise under realistic conditions. Do not do this any closer than 7 days before the real exam. 

Use a suitable Gloucestershire 11+ mock exam or GL Assessment-style practice paper. We have lots of our site and they are all free. 

Create a quiet environment, remove distractions and use appropriate timings.

The objective isn't to achieve a perfect 11+ score, you're helping your child practise concentration, timing and resilience.

When you've finished, identify what went well first. Then choose only one or two things to improve.

7. Don't Obsess Over 11+ Practice Scores

One of the biggest questions parents ask is:

“What percentage should my child be getting on 11+ practice papers?”

Practice-paper scores can be useful for identifying strengths and weaknesses, but don't let one result destroy your child's confidence. Remember there is no pass mark. 

Different practice papers have different difficulty levels.

Instead of repeatedly asking: “What score did you get?”, try asking:

“What did you learn from this paper?”

That's a much healthier conversation two weeks before the exam.

8. Prioritise Sleep, Exercise and Normal Family Life

The best 11+ preparation isn't always another worksheet.

Sleep matters. So does exercise, relaxation and having some completely normal family time.

Keep bedtime consistent and avoid late-night revision.

Most importantly, try not to make every family conversation about the 11 plus.

Children notice parental anxiety.

Your calmness can become their confidence.

9. Reduce 11+ Revision in the Final 48 Hours

When the 11+ exam is only two days away, parents understandably think:

"We should squeeze in one more practice paper."

Resist the temptation.

Your child's knowledge isn't going to disappear because they take a break.

Light reading, a few vocabulary questions or a short confidence-building exercise is fine.

But avoid a full day of 11+ revision immediately before the test.

Your child needs to arrive with energy and concentration.

10. Prepare for Gloucestershire 11+ Exam Day

Don't leave the practical details until the morning.

Check the official information you've received from your child's Gloucestershire grammar school/test centre.

Confirm:

• Test location.

• Arrival time.

• Travel arrangements.

• Parking or drop-off arrangements.

• What your child needs to bring.

• What they are permitted to bring.

• Any instructions provided by the test centre.

If you're travelling somewhere unfamiliar, check the route beforehand and leave plenty of time.

The aim is a calm morning — not a stressful dash through Gloucestershire!

What Should My Child Do the Night Before the 11+?

Very little.

Put away the 11+ practice papers.

Prepare everything needed for the morning.

Have a normal dinner and a relaxing evening.

Get to bed at a sensible time.

And give your child three simple instructions:

Read carefully. Keep moving. Do your best.

That's enough.

Which Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Use the 11+?

Parents researching the Gloucestershire 11+ are often considering grammar schools including Pate's Grammar School, Sir Thomas Rich's School, The Crypt School, Denmark Road High School, Ribston Hall High School, Marling School and Stroud High School.

If your family is considering one or more Gloucestershire grammar schools, remember that preparing for the entrance test is only one part of the admissions process. Always check the current admissions information and deadlines for the schools you're interested in.

Is the Gloucestershire 11+ a GL Assessment Test?

The Gloucestershire grammar school entrance test uses GL Assessment, which is why parents may see terms such as GL Assessment 11+, GL 11+, Gloucestershire 11+ practice papers and GL Assessment practice questions when researching preparation.

Children should be comfortable with the relevant question styles and, importantly, working accurately within timed conditions.

What If My Child Is Nervous About the 11+?

Some nerves are completely normal.

Avoid telling your child that they must pass or discussing rankings, scores and school places constantly in front of them.

Instead say:

“You've prepared for this. Just concentrate on each question and do your best.”

The Gloucestershire 11+ is one exam on one day. It doesn't define your child's intelligence, ability or future.

Gloucestershire 11+ Help From Success Index

If you've been searching for Gloucestershire 11+ help, 11+ preparation, GL Assessment practice, 11+ mock exams, 11+ practice papers, 11+ maths, 11+ English, verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning or Gloucestershire grammar school entrance exam advice, Success Index is here to help.

We understand the Gloucestershire 11+ and the questions local parents have as test day approaches.

Explore our Gloucestershire 11+ resources and expert support at www.successindex.co.uk.

And remember:

Two weeks before the 11+ isn't the time to panic. Keep preparation focused, protect your child's confidence and help them arrive rested and ready to show what they can do.